where to enter expenses related to nonprofit board service

[5haughtons]

I am on the board of a nonprofit in a town that is 2000 miles away from where I live. As part of my board service as the organization's secretary and PR specialist, I subscribe to the local newspaper. Can I deduct the cost of that subscription? 
Also, I paid for postage and printing for the org's annual appeal.  Can I deduct those expenses? 

Where on TT do I enter these donations? 

Under Enter a Donation to ____ there is an option for Travel and Expenses but my attempt to enter something other than travel tied to a particular date is rejected by TT.

[AnnetteB6 · Accepted solution]

The cost of the newspaper subscription would not be a charitable contribution unless the charity would have paid that expense for you and you declined to be reimbursed.  The cost of the postage and printing can be entered as a charitable contribution because you paid for the expense that would normally have been paid by the charity.  

Enter the cost of the postage and printing as a 'cash' donation to the charity.

You would only enter travel expenses related to your serving on the board if you actually made a trip to the town where the nonprofit is located.  Therefore, dates related to the travel must be entered.

[5haughtons]

Thank you.  This is very helpful. 

[Opus 17]

You can deduct out pocket costs in provided service to a charity, but any items you pay for must become the property of the charity or be used up in providing service to the charity.  For example, you can deduct the value of a computer and printer if you donated it to the charity and they took ownership, but you can't deduct for the use of your computer and printer in printing a newsletter.  You can deduct the cost of paper and postage, if you have receipts.  You can't deduct for your own newspaper, since it is yours and not the charity.

Also note, the charity could reimburse you tax-free for any costs you pay related to your service, and you could then donate part or all of that money back to them.

Finally, if audited you would likely need a letter acknowledging that you provided these services or paid for these costs on behalf of the charity.  The letter does not have to attest to a specific dollar value, as you will do that separately with receipts or other proof.  But the IRS can ask you to prove that the paper and postage were actually used for the charity and not something else.